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| RNW Africa Desk (AFP) |
Government
officials in many African countries simply refuse to retire. In office for
three, four and sometimes five decades, aged civil servants continue to hang on
to their positions.
In many
African countries, government officials and political leaders do not want to
hear about retirement, although legally they are usually expected to retire at
55 or 60. These government officials use various schemes to remain in office. Some
obtain special extensions by presidential decree, while others often
fraudulently lower their age to become 'officially' younger.
Clinging to
positions
Why do they
cling so desperately to their positions at the expenses of the unemployed
youth?
“When I
retire, I will receive one third of my current salary,” explains Théophile, a
civil servant in Cameroon. “What can I do with it?”, he wonders. “We have very
low salaries, and we have to look after our families and help our relatives. We
can’t really afford to save. One can start his career in government with a
salary of 150,000 CFA francs (€230) and end with 250,000 CFA francs (€380).
Without the benefits, one cannot afford to build a house and secure a decent
life after retirement.”
Bad
management
Kouotou, a
young entrepreneur, highlights how civil servants manage their income. “Most of
them live from hand to mouth", he says. "They do not make any plans
to save for a peaceful retirement. Therefore, a number of them are surprised
when it comes time to retire, and they choose to hang on to their positions.”
Kouotou’s
observations are shared by a majority of young Cameroonians. “When I was still
in primary school, the current president, the prime minister and most ministers
were already in office", says Florent, frustrated and unemployed.
"Meanwhile, I have completed my Master’s degree and they are still there.
There is no turnover. Everyone wants to remain in office until they die. How
are we then going to find jobs?”
But for
Simondi Barlev Bidjocka, leader of the Cameroonian Youth Rally (RJC), another
reason government officials cling to their positions is because being a civil
servant essentially means pay without work. "One comes to work at 10 a.m.
and leaves at 3 p.m.”, he says.
No turnover
What adds
to the frustration of some young people is the fact that senior government
officials were still very young when they accessed executive positions. “The
youth need to be given a chance. Young people are the future of the country and
the continent. If the elders continue to hang on to office, the youth will
ultimately rebel. Everywhere around the world, young people are the ones
leading popular uprisings. So they must listen to us,” warns an angry Florent.
The RJC is
launching a campaign to call for more young people in executive positions.
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